Tests for evaluation of quality of life, depressive symptoms and neuropsychological battery to assess general mental status, learning, attention, visuospatial perception, immediate memory, operational and executive skills and recall, including processing speed. This assessment will be applied before surgery, and 3, 7, 21, 90 and 180 days after surgery.

Dexamethasone for the Prevention of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction

Official Title ICMJE

Dexamethasone for the Prevention of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Patients Undergoing to General Anesthesia

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the possible effect of dexamethasone on prevention of cognitive dysfunction in the postoperative period of elderly patients undergoing to surgery under general anesthesia.

Detailed Description

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is related with the use of opioids in the postoperative period, lack of physical activity, fatigue, postoperative pain and quality of life. The use of corticosteroids preoperatively reduces postoperative pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting in the postoperative period and is frequently used as an adjuvant in anesthesia. This study aims to evaluate the possible effect of dexamethasone on prevention of cognitive dysfunction in the postoperative period of elderly patients undergoing to surgery under general anesthesia.

a dose of 8 mg of dexamethasone will be administered intravenously before induction of general anesthesia

Other: control group

General anesthesia, without additional interventions

Study Arm (s)

Experimental: Dexamethasone, POCD, psycological tests

Subjects will be randomly assigned in two groups: For the Dexamethasone group, 8mg of dexamethasone will be administered intravenously before the induction of general anesthesia. For Control Group, no Dexamethasone will be administered.

Tests for evaluation of quality of life, depressive symptoms and neuropsychological battery to assess general mental status, learning, attention, visuospatial perception, immediate memory, operational and executive skills and recall, including processing speed. This assessment will be applied before surgery, and 3, 7, 21, 90 and 180 days after surgery.

Intervention: Drug: Dexamethasone

Sham Comparator: Control, POCD, psycological tests

Subjects will be randomly assigned in two groups: For the Dexamethasone group, 8mg of dexamethasone will be administered intravenously before the induction of general anesthesia. For Control Group, no Dexamethasone will be administered.

Tests for evaluation of quality of life, depressive symptoms and neuropsychological battery to assess general mental status, learning, attention, visuospatial perception, immediate memory, operational and executive skills and recall, including processing speed. This assessment will be applied before surgery, and 3, 7, 21, 90 and 180 days after surgery.

Intervention: Other: control group

Publications *

Not Provided

* Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications
identified by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number) in Medline.